What Is Data Democratization and Why Do You Need It?

Let’s explore how to break down silos and connected systems quickly through data standards to power analytics, modernize data and create hybrid environments.

Democratizing data means breaking down silos and connecting systems quickly and efficiently. That means giving data access for your users anywhere, anytime from any data source. This is the topic we explore in our latest eBook, "Democratize Your Data: Data access for your users—anywhere, anytime, from any source." In a world with IoT, cloud applications, legacy systems, social networks and millions of business transactions, data is abounding and making democratization more challenging than ever before.

You need to use this data to reduce costs, develop new products, optimize offerings and make agile decisions. So, how do you approach a body of data that is doubling every two years? The best way to leverage this data is through time tested standards to power analytics, modernize data and create hybrid environments.

Hybrid Environments

According to 451 Research, “Hybrid IT embracing on-premises and hosted private cloud, along with public cloud, SaaS and existing client-server applications sitting on cloud infrastructure, is the future of enterprise IT.” Let’s face it, you don’t have time to learn every format and API for every data source. You need to access data wherever it lives as soon as possible—whether on-premises or in the cloud.

The optimal way to approach democratization in hybrid environments is though industry-standard interfaces such as ODBC, JDBC, ADO.NET and OData. This way, without the need to maintain multiple APIs or code, the data is treated just like a relational database and works with your familiar SQL tools. Deliver point-and-click access across multiple data sources in real time with no duplication or stale data.

Powering Analytics

Is it possible to exploit and take action on the deluge of data without disrupting your business, moving your data or learning anything new? Yes! Standard interfaces allow you to unlock the BI potential of your data silos and enable you to do a number of tasks with your existing skills and BI infrastructure.

The result? You can respond quickly to demands for direct access to new types of data. Leverage OData to gain insights from data on cloud sources like Microsoft Dynamics CRM or Salesforce.com. Use Standard ODBC Connectivity from BI tools to multiple data sources. Ingest SaaS data sources with JDBC and Apache Sqoop to build a marketing data lake for analytics.

Data Modernization

The reality is that legacy systems are here to stay. They are a core component of many businesses and are difficult and costly to replace. The point of data modernization is to integrate these legacy systems with modern data from cloud, mobile and analytics applications.

No one wants to work in an IT department that struggles with inflexible technology architecture. Without modernizing, archaic architecture can make it nearly impossible to effectively share information in a timely manner. This leads to manual, non-standard workarounds. You need to leverage data standards to make this data fast, real time and easily shareable.

Get Started with Data Democratization

Data not only defines your business, it differentiates you in a crowded marketplace. Progress DataDirect, used by six of the top nine Gartner Magic Quadrant Vendors for BI/Analytics, leverages open standards to take your business to the next level. We offer connectivity solutions to data in the cloud or behind the firewall, big data technology, legacy system data or multiple sources at once.

Want to learn more about hybrid environments, modernization and analytics? We go into more depth with all of these topics in our latest eBook, “Democratize Your Data: Data access for your users—anywhere, anytime, from any source.” Discover how real companies used open standards to propel their business.

Suzanne is passionate about promoting the Progress Data Connectivity and Integration business and corporate initiatives through social media and other marketing channels using extraordinary and compelling content and effective metrics. She is also team lead for DCI content developers, new hires and interns.

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